Sree Vallabha Temple Thiruvalla

This famous Temple is situated at Thiruvalla Sub district. The exact location of this temple is ½km south of Ramapuram vegetable market on the Thiruvalla - Kayamkulam Main Road. The present Thiruvalla was known as Sree Vallabhapuram in the past and was an important place of Pilgrimage in South India.

Being one among 108 Divya Desams Sreevallabha temple has been glorified by Alvars and many other ancient works. It is considered to be the vallabha kshethram.

Vallabha idol is bearing a conch, a discus and a lotus. The Sudarshana Chakram seen through the west cardinal door of the sanctum is held in worship and is believed to have been installed in the 13th century. Sandalwood paste is offered as the prasadam in the Vallabha shrine, while vibhooti or the sacred ash is offered as prasadam in the Chakra sign on the other side of the sanctum.

The Dwaja stamba of this temple is a monolithic structure of black granite 50 feet in height. At the top of this staff is an image of Garuda.

The rule for darshan at this temple is - first offer prayers to Ganapathy, Sastha, Bhagavathy and Kurayappan swami outside the nalambalam. Then visit Ilavanthi Theertham and offer prayers to Sage Vyasa. Then offer prayers to Sage Durvasa and then to Garuda at the top of the dwaja. Then enter inside the nalambalam and offer prayers to Vishwaksena, Dakshinamoorthy and reach infront of the sreekovil. Then offer prayers to Lakshmi Devi, bhumi Devi and Lord Sree Vallabha. Then start the pradakshinam inside the nalambalam and offer prayers to Lord sudarsana in the west nada.

Daily five main pooja are being performed with thee naivedyam and three sreebali. It starts with palliyunarthal or awakening the Lord followed by abhishekam or bathing with 12 pots of water sanctified with vedic chantings. This is followed by malar naivedyam. Afterwards Usha Pooja which is Purusha sukta pradhana starts. At this time, the idol will be dressed up like a brahmachari in 18 feet long white mundu with uthareeyam and two flower garlands. Then main nivedyam is done followed by usha deepaaradhana. First sreebali(sacrificing food to all crew of the deity) follows this. Pantheeradi pooja starts after a short interval in which the Lord is dressed up in Saffron-yellow mundu, angavastram, tulasi garland only. No ornaments are used during this as the Lord is assumed as a Yogeeshwara. This is also called as Purushanarayana pooja. Then follows Madhyahna/ ucha pooja or noon pooja in which Lord is assumed to be thriloka chakravarthi i.e. emperor of three worlds, grihastha bhava, adorned with all ornaments and garlands especially kesaadipaadam garlands. Ucha pooja is completed in three parts one inside sanctum-sanctorum, another one at navaka pooja and third being the paala namaskaaram. At this time ucha nivedyam and paala namaskaaram are done followed by sreebali and temple closes. Evening temple opens and deeparaadhana or lamp worship is done after sometime. Then follows the fourth pooja in which the Lord is assumed to be sreemad naarayanan and these two pooja are in Sthithi sankalpa. Soon athazha pooja/5th pooja is done in which Sreevallabha is assumed to be Parabrahma. Now the Lord will be dressed up in a single saffron colour mundu and a tulasi garland only. After third sreebali, Lakshminarayana pooja is done as a part of the Sleeping ceremony and sanctum-sanctorum is closed keeping necessary articles for a pooja inside for Sage Durvasa along with Saptarishi, who come at midnight daily for ardhayaama pooja. Sage Durvasa is believed to perform always naivedya also and hence prasanna pooja is open and naivedyam is done closed. Devotees also should never use vibuthi inside the temple, even though it is the prasada given. They shall use it outside only. Male devotees are not allowed to wear shirt, t-shirts etc.

Temple Timings: morning 4 a.m. to noon 12 p.m. and evening 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.